The Everton Forum • Re: Beto
I get what you're saying, but the problem is that even when you play to his strengths he's completely shit most of the time. Never let his purple patches fool you in to thinking it's an us problem not a him problem.I don't agree.
The issue is because of how we play.
We still use him like we used DCL when he's not that type of striker, at all (except is a decent headed-goal-from-a-cross chance)...
So I guess the choice is we can play to his strengths or continue to use him incorrectly as a back to goal outlet striker until we find someone else. Needs must to some extent, I understand.
The 'style' we had feeding it to Jack who is dangerous near goal also helps creates goals for us, but we can't use Beto's attributes in that situation with slow build up play whilst we wheel our heavy artillery, cavalry and flack cannon (I'm looking at you, Idrissa) into the danger area stationed in and around the box.
His attributes are the complete flip of this. He actually does quite well when he's moving into space, fast and strong if a bit clumsy at times. He actually finishes relatively well in those situations as that was his bread and butter in Italy. He's raw power rather than finesse.
It's just that he's not well-rounded and can't do many roles like say Thiago at Brentford for example, and has bad touch... this overly highlights his less-than-pretty football deficiencies.
If he's static or back to goal, he's lost. If it's played in front of him he has a good chance of scoring or at the very least giving us chances and corners...
With better and more creative passing (and passers) and a team that can control the ball, press and release at the right times, which we haven't been for years but are moving in that direction, he can do it.
Our old striker who couldn't (and still can't) hit a barn door is on his way towards 12-15 as the relegation threatened team he joined actually play to his strengths.
Beto is almost a 1 in 2 striker this season (1 in 2.25)
38 games = 17 goals.
He has been at that rate in every season in his career where he's played at least a dozen games. He is actually very consistent season to season.
15-20 is certainly achievable even if we persist using him incorrectly. Whether that yields +/- overall goals for the team is another question entirely.
He's scored 10 & 11 in Seria A seasons, and 11 in Portugal's top division... He never has hit 15 at a top level anywhere, it doesn't matter how you play, he isn't and never will be a 15+ goal a season striker.
Obviously how we play affects how he performs because of his very limited skill set, I agree with that, but it also makes little difference overall to his ability to regularly put the ball in the net.
Statistics: Posted by AjaxAndy — Mon Mar 23, 2026 7:25 am